Windmill



D. L. FORD WINDMILL Feb; 15, 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10. 1926 i Inventor 'flLFm'd,

. Attorney Feb. 15. 1927. 1,617,385

' D. 1.. FORD WILNDMILL Filed April 10. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor ZZLFoNZ I I j v 4 q r I J Attorney- 2 designed. I

v Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID L. FORD, OF IPALCO, KANSAS.

WINDMILL.

Application filed April 10, 1926.

- The present invention relates to improvements inwindmill's and has for its principal object to provide a simple and eificient means for generating electric current with 8 whichjstorage batteries may be charged or which may be otherwise employed.

j One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide awindmill of the above mentioned character wherein a 10. governor. is associated therewith for cutting off the operation of the windmill whenever itis desired. I k

A further object of the invention is to provide a windmill of the above mentioned fll character which will at all times be positiveand efficient in its operation, the same being further simple in construction, inexpensivefstron'g, and durable and further well'adapted to the purpose for which it is Other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent during the course ofthe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Inthe accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

shown in section of the windmill constructed in accordancewith the present invention. Figure 2 is atop plan view thereof.

' Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the governor showing the manner in which the same is associated with the hub of the wind wheel.

H Figure 4 is the sectional view taken approximately on line 4.4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

40 Figure 5 is a face view of the plate formed on the forward end of the rotatable sleeve.

, I Figure 6 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 6 6 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the guide roller supported between the sides of the channel bar directly over the opening in the base of the channel bar, which roller forms a guide for the actuating chain, and V Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the yoke memberforming a part of the governor operating means.

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts Serial No. 101,136.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose. of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the supporting means which is of a construction well known in the art, and mounted in the upper portion of the support 1 is the tubular member 2. A frame designated generally by the numeral 3 is carried on the upper end of the tubular member 2 and is preferably in the form of a channel bar as is clearly illustrated in several figures of the drawings. The forward end of the channel bar is curved upwardly as clearly shown in Figure 1. The frame 3 and the tubular member 2 are adapted for rotation on the upper portion of the support 1, and to this end I provide the turn tables 4 and 5 respectively, the turn table 4 cooperating with the upper'end of the support 1. The lower turn table 5 is adapted for cooperation with the bottom bearing 6 which also forms oracts as a collector ring for the negative terminal of the gen-' erator 7. The upper turn table 4 is secured to the under side of the channel bar 3, while the lower turn table 5 is carried by the lower portion of the tubular member 2.

A vertical bracket 8 extends upwardly from the frame 3 and is provided at its upper end with a suitable bearing 9, the same being adapted forcooperation with the bearing 10 formed on the upper curved forward end of the channel bar forming the frame 3 for supporting the horizontal shaft 11. The purpose of this shaft will be presently apparent.

A bracket 12 is provided for supporting the generator 7 on the frame 3 in the manner as is more clearly illustrated in Figure 6. The generator is adapted to be operated through the medium of the intermeshing gears 13 and 14 carried on the rear end of the horizontal shaft 11 and the outer end of the enerator shaft 15 respectively, in the manner as clearly illustrated in Figure 6. A suitable casing 16 is disposed over the gears for obvious purposes.

A wind wheel designated generally by the numeral 17 is secured on the outer forward end of the horizontal shaft'll, and the same comprises the hub portion 18 and extending radially from the hub .portion are the spoke receiving portions 19. In the,

present instance, four of such spoke receiving portions are formed in the wind wheel for the purpose of supporting four spokes designated generally by the numeral 20 and these spokes have attached on their outer ends the vanes or blades 21. It is to be understood however that I do not wish to limit myself to the particular number of blades which may be employed in conncction with the wind wheel. Each of the spoke receiving portions 19 has formed therein an angular slot such as is shown at 22' with reference more particularly to Fig-- ure 4.- and extending through these slots are the pins 23, the forward ends of which are threaded'into the respective spokes 20 adjacent the inner ends thereof. These pins extend rearward'ly of the wind wheel and the purpose thereof will be hereinafter more fully described.

A bearing sleeve 24: is formed on the inner end of the hub portion 18 of the wind wheel 17 and this bearing sleeve surrounds a forward portion of the horizontal shaft 11 as clearly shown in Figure 1. A rotatable sleeve 25 is mounted on the forward portion of the bearing sleeve 24 and cooperating with the rotatable sleeve 25 is slidable, sleeve 26 which is mounted on the rear portion of the bearing sleeve 24, a suitable key 27 being associated with the rear portion of the hearing sleeve 24 and the adjacent portion of the sleeve 26 for preventing the rotation of the sleeve 26 with respect to the bearing sleeve 24. The manner in whichthe rotatable sleeve and the slidable sleeve cooperate with each other will be hereinafter more fully explained.

A face plate 28 is' formed on the forward end of the rotatable sleeve 25, and the same is adapted" for cooperation with the spoke receiving portions 19 of the wind wheel 17 in the manner to be presently described.

This face plate is provided with four angu larly arranged slots 29 which are adapted for cooperation with the angularly arranged slots 22 formed in the respective spoke receiving members 19, the slot 29 being 'disposed in opposite directions to the slots 22 as is more readily obvious from the construction shown in Figure 4. For further rendering the face plate 28 liglit,'-tl1e same is providedwith the cut out portion 30. The construction of the face plate per se is clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The outer free ends of the pins 23 which are carried: by the inner portions of the spokes 20 project through the respective slots 29, thus providing an operative connection bet-ween the rotatable sleeve 25 and the wind wheel 17 The inner opposed end of the sleeves 25 and 26 are beveled. as illustrated at 31 and 32 respectively, and the purpose of this construction will also be hereinafter more fully described. A collar 33 is formed on the rear end of the slidable sleeve 26 and cooperating with this collar 33 is the yoke 34 which is formed on the forward end of the elongated operating rod 35, the latter being disposed horizontally and having its rear free end slidable in a suitable guide way 36 provided therefor in the bracket 8. This rod and the yoke 3% formed on the forward end thereof is adapted for slidable movement for moving the sleeve 26 forwardly and the sliding movement of the rod 35 is accomplished by means of the operating chain 37 which is attached at its upper end to the apertured ears 38 on the rod 35 adjacent the rear end thereof. This operating chain 38 extends over a suitable guide pulley or roller 39 which is supported between the sides of the channel bar 3 directly above the opening 40 formed in the base of the. channel bar and through which the chain is adapted to extend. The chain then extends downwardly through the tubular member 2, and the lower free end thereof is within easy reach of the operator.

An 'expansible coil spring 41 encircles the sleeves 25 and 2G. one end of this spring being secured to the face plate 28 which is carried by the forward end of the rotatable sleeve 25, the rear or opposite end of thecoil spring being threaded and extending through an apertured lug d2 provided therefor on the collar A thumb nut 43 is threaded on the threaded end of the coil spring 41 and cooperates with the apertured lug L2 in the manner clearly shown in Figure 3. This construction provides a means whereby the tension of the coil spring may be adjusted.

Normally, the parts are arranged as shown in the drawing, and the wind wheel will be rotated by the action of the wind coming in contact with the blades 21 and the rotation of the wind wheel 17 will impart rotary movement to the shaft 11 and through the medium of the intermeshing' gears 13 and 14, the generator 7 will be operated for generating current to charge storage batteries, or for any other purpose for which the electric current generated may be employed.

li henever it is desired to cut off the operation of the wind mill, the operator pulls downwardly on the chain 37- and this will cause the rod 35 to move forwardly, and through the medium of the yoke 34 and the collar 33, the sleeve 26 will slide forwardly on the bearing sleeve 2%, and the beveled forward end 32 of the sleeve 26 will cooperate with the beveled inner or rear end 31 of the sleeve 25 to effect a twisting or compression of the coil spring ell, and as a result of this action, the sleeve 25 will be caused to rotate in a clock-wise direction.

The rotation of the sleeve 25 and the face plate 28 carried on the forward endthereof to slightly rotate in their .respective receivrotary movement of the latter.

ing portions 19 through the medium of the pins 23 and the cooperating slots 22 and 29 so that the blades 21 will be disposed in edge.

Wise relation so that the wind cannot act upon the blades of the wind wheel to effect the Any suitable means may be provided for holding the chain 37 in its downwardly pulled position.

7 As soon as the chain 37 is released, the

coil spring ll will automatically return the sleeve 25" and the face plate 28 carried on the forward end thereof to their normal positions, and as a-result the blades 21 will again be positioned against the action of the wind to permit the wind wheel to operate inthe usual manner.

It will thus be seen that I have provided agovernor for controlling the operation of the wind wheel and the governor will at all times be positive and efiicient in its operation. The simplicity in which the present invention is constructed enables the same to be easily and readily operated, and furthermore can be quickly assembled or disassembled.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be under stood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirlt of the invention and the scope claims.

Having thus described the invention, whatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a windmill, a horizontal shaft, a

of the appended wind wheel comprising a hub secured on 40 said shaft, a series of radially disposed spokes journaled for rotation in said hub, blades carried by the outer end portions of the spokes, a sleeve extension formed on the inner end of the hub and disposed over said shaft, a rotatable sleeve extension, co-

operative means between said rotatable sleeve and said spokes for disposing the blades in ,edgewise relation, means for effecting the actuation of the rotatable sleeve, said last mentioned means comprising an additional sleeve adapted for slidable movement on the rear portion of the aforementioned sleeve extension, the inneropposed end of the sleeve mounted on the sleeve extension bemg beveled, and a normally exanded coil s rin encirclin the sleeve mounted On the sleeve extension the respective ends of the spring being secured to the rotatable and slidable sleeve.

v2. In a windmill. ahorizontal shaft, a wind wheel comprising a hub secured on one end of the shaft, a bearing sleeve extending from the inner'end of the hub, a series of radially disposed spokes journaled for rotation in the hub, blades carried by mounted on the forward portion of the bear ing sleeve, a face plate carried by the forward end of the rotatable sleeve and pro vided with angular slots through which the outer ends of the respective pins extend, a slidable sleeve mounted on the rear portion of the bearing sleeve, the inner opposed ends of the rotatable sleeve and the sliding sleeve being beveled, a collar associated with the rear end of the slidable sleeve, a normally expanded coil spring encircling said last mentioned pair of sleeves, one end of the spring being secured to the face plate, the other end being secured to the collar, and means cooperating with the collar for actuating said slidable sleeve to effect the compressing of the coil spring and simultaneously actuate the spokes to dispose the blades in edgewise relation.

8. In a windmill, a horizontal shaft, a wind wheel comprising a hub secured on one end of the shaft, a bearing sleeve extending from the inner end of the hub, a series of radially disposed spokes journaled for rotation in the hub, blades carried by the outer end portions of the spokes, pins carried by the inner end portions of the respective spokes and extending rearwardly from the wind wheel, a rotatable sleeve mounted on the forward portion of the bearing sleeve, a face plate carried by the forward end of the rotatable sleeve and provided with angular slots through which the outer ends of the respective pins extend, a slidable sleeve mounted on the rear portion of the bearing sleeve, the inner opposed ends of the rotatable sleeve and the sliding sleeve being beveled, a collar associated with the rear end of the slidable sleeve, a normally expanded coil spring encircling said last mentioned pair of sleeves, one end of the spring being secured to the face plate, the other end being secured to the collar, means cooperating with the collar for actuating said slidable sleeve to effect the compressing of the coil spring and simultaneously actuate the spokes to dispose the blades in edgewise relation, said last mentioned means comprising an operating rod adapted for slidable movement on the windmill, and a yoke formed on one end of the rod and cooperating with said collar.

4. In a windmill, a horizontal shaft, a \vindwheel comprising a hub secured on said shaft, a series of radially disposed spokes journalcd for rotation in said hub, blades carried by the outer end portions of the spokes, a sleeve extension formed on the inner end of said hub and disposed over said shaft, a rotatable sleeve mounted on the forward portion of the aforementioned sleeve extension, cooperative means between the rotatable sleeve and said. spokes for disposing the blades in edgewise relation, said means comprising a face plate formed on the forward end of the rotatable sleeve, said hub being provided with a series of angular slots, said face plate having a series ofangular slots communicating with the aforementioned slots and disposed in opposite directions thereto, pins projecting laterally from said spokes through the respective registering slots, and means for effecting the actuation of the rotatable sleeve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DAVID L. FORD. 

